Pets

When your pet dies

Pets

When your pet dies

When Linda Mickel's 19-year-old cat, Zipper, died, Linda was unprepared for the range of decisions she needed to make. Caught in the emotion of the moment and flanked by two sobbing daughters, she opted for a private cremation and a porcelain paw-print memorial without giving much thought to costs or alternatives.

Services and feesAccording to Michael O'Sullivan, executive director of the Humane Society of Canada, fees for services vary widely across Canada and you should ask about the costs of cremation and burial as you would with any other consumer decision. Start by calling the local humane society or by talking to your veterinarian about alternatives.

Whether you choose burial or cremation, consider your needs and those of your family. Do you want a burial site to visit? Is there a special dog run you may want to scatter your pet's ashes over?

Cremation considerationsIf you choose cremation, you'll have the option of a private or general one. Although some humane societies and clinics have onsite crematoriums, many refer the actual cremation to private crematoriums.

A general cremation means your pet will be cremated with other deceased pets and you won't be able to keep your pet's remains. With a private cremation, your pet's ashes will be returned to you, often in a cremation container of your choice. You may choose to have a special item -- a blanket or a favourite toy -- cremated with your pet.

General cremations cost less than private cremations, which vary in price, depending on the weight of the pet and the type of urn selected. Many people opt for a small memorial paw print -- sometimes included in the overall charge -- of their pet. Ask to have these, and all, costs outlined for you.

Burial deliberationsMany cities have pet cemeteries listed in the phone book, but if you decide to bury your pet in your back yard, the Humane Society of Canada recommends you dig down to a depth of four feet to avoid the possibility of another animal digging up the grave. Municipal bylaws vary, so call your local humane society to learn about bylaws specific to your city.

Personal healingOften, the burial or cremation of the family pet is just the beginning of the grieving process. Check with the humane society or the phone book to see if your city has a pet-loss society to help your family cope with the death of a pet. The Humane Society of Canada also offers a website memorial at no charge. Pet owners can send an e-mail to michael@humanesociety.com, with a picture of their pet, along with a written memorial.

5 ways you're getting extra sugar without knowing it

Nutrition

5 ways you're getting extra sugar without knowing it

You might have heard the recent cautions from health experts that we’re eating too much sugar but brushed them off because you don’t have a sweet tooth. The truth is, even those who don’t eat sweets are getting way more than the recommended six teaspoons (25 grams) of sugar. That’s because sugar is hidden in nearly every processed food we eat. Chances are, if it comes in a package, it’s loaded with sugar. Here are five ways you could be getting sugar without knowing it.

1. Savoury saucesSince pasta sauce and barbecue sauce are savoury, they don’t contain sugar, right? Wrong. These sauces are actually some of the worst offenders when it comes to our sugar consumption. A half-cup of pasta sauce has about 12 grams of sugar, while the same amount of ketchup has about 27 grams, and barbecue sauce can have a whopping 44 grams. Even salad dressing can have up to nine grams of sugar per serving.

2. YogurtYogurt has long been heralded as a healthy snack, but it might not be as wholesome as you think. While yogurt has some naturally occurring sugar, it’s also a huge culprit for added sugars, especially if it’s flavoured or has fruit mixed in. A tiny 170-gram single serving cup can contain your full day’s sugar intake, so if you love yogurt, opt for plain varieties and mix in your own fruit for flavouring.3. Real fruit juices or leatherYou know that sodas and sweetened juices aren’t good for you, but you might think you’re being nutritious by buying the stuff made of 100 percent real fruit. Unfortunately, once fruit has been stripped of its fibre and turned into something else (like juice or fruit leather), your body no longer sees it as natural fruit. That’s why the World Health Organization’s recommendations say that the 24 grams of sugar found in the standard cup of apple juice count towards your 25-gram daily limit of added sugars.

4. Bread, pizza and crackersAlmost all bread you buy will have some sugar in it, because sugar activates the yeast to make the bread rise, but when you read the package of bread—or frozen pizza or any other bread product—you might be shocked to learn just how much sugar is hiding inside. A single bun might have four or five grams of sugar, and it’s easy to get the same amount in a serving of crackers—though chances are you’ll eat more than one serving.

5. Cereal and granola barsYou might think that if you’re not eating candy-coloured sugary cereals you’re in the clear, but unfortunately you need to look a little harder at the label to tell which cereals are chock-full of sugar. For example, did you know that a bowl of muesli can contain a day’s worth of sugar, and twice the amount as a bowl of Fruit Loops? And cereal bars or granola bars aren’t much better, with even the healthier versions coming in at half your day’s sugar. Try to make your own granola bars or muesli so you know how much sugar goes into them.

Food

10 delicious marinades for steak

Summer grilling doesn't just brings out the best get-togethers, but also the best in barbecued steaks. Don't throw your t-bones and sirloins into the grill just yet. Our easy-to-follow recipes for marinades for steak will give your meat a hearty flavour-boost that'll please all meat-lovers in your family.

The best way to add some flavour to your steaks is by whipping together some great marinades for steak and letting the meat soak up the amazing flavours. If you love exotic spices, try bathing your steak in a Five-Spice Marinade, which is flavour-packed with Chinese five-spice powder. Or, mix together cumin, paprika, garlic and lemon juice for a hot and zesty Moroccan Marinade.

Want something simple and classic? A quick Salt and Pepper Steak Rub is a perfect addition to any barbecue.

You can also try brushing your steaks on the grill with some Sweet Smoky Tomato Basting Sauce, a delicious mix of tomatoes, apple cider and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Now get out and get grilling with some of these delicious marinades for steak.

10 tasty marinades for steak:

1.Salt and Pepper Steak Rub The classic combination of black pepper and coriander seeds is delicious on thick, juicy steaks, such as T-bones, sirloins or strip loins.

2.Sweet Smoky Tomato Basting Sauce This sauce mellows out considerably when brushed over meat on the grill, but it also packs a punch of flavour when served as a side sauce at the table. For doubly delicious results, use it to baste while grilling and serve extra sauce at the table.

3.Moroccan Marinade Got a pantry of spices? Stir together a few tablespoons of cumin and paprika with cinnamon, garlic and lemon juice for a flavour-filled marinade, perfect for grilling meat and poultry.

4. Universal Spice Rub Keep this simple all-purpose rub on hand for a last-minute flavour boost. You can rub it onto steak, ribs, brisket, chicken, fish or seafood before putting them on the barbecue.

Baking & Desserts

Our best muffin recipes

Whip up a dozen moist muffins on a leisurely Sunday morning. Or better yet, set out the muffin recipe ingredients the night before and let the first person up bake a batch for everyone. Most of these muffin recipes can be made in advance and frozen.

Quick & Easy

Easy pasta salad recipes

Planning a picnic or family barbecue anytime soon? Give yourself one less thing to worry about and go for one of our easy pasta salad recipes. It's sure to be a hit!

Pasta salads are great to make ahead, and are absolute tops for large groups. They also take the cake for being an extremely versatile dish – with a host of added ingredients, toppings and dressings, simple pasta salads can go from humble side to star entrée in no time.

We asked Test Kitchen food specialist Amanda Barnier to share some top tips for preparing pasta salads, and why they're a crowd favourite. Here's what she had to share:

Pasta salads: the perfect make-ahead dish
"Pasta salads can easily be prepped in advance and can feed a crowd with little effort," Amanda says. "It can be made in advance and cooled immediately after cooking."

One important tip to remember, she adds, is to "add dressing the day it's being served, because it will quickly absorb the dressing."

Pasta salad favourites
"I like using cheese filled tortellini for a hearty salad. Soba and rice noodles are great with Asian dressings, whole grain and coloured pastas," Amanda says.

How to store pasta salads
"Keep salads well wrapped and refrigerated," she says. "Salad has the same storage life as its ingredients. Seafood is best eaten within 2 days, and chicken (within) 2 to 3 days. If traveling, be sure to store pasta salads in coolers packed with lots of ice."

"Proteins should not be within 4 C and 60 C for longer than a four hour period," she adds.

The long and short of it: best pasta shapes
"Short shapes are best with vinaigrettes and creamy dressings, and chunky ingredients such as chopped vegetables and beans," Amanda says.

Tips for making pasta salad
"If making a pasta salad in advance, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and drain well," she advises. "Add dressing just prior to serving. Pasta quickly absorbs liquids; if the dressing is added too soon, the pasta will absorb it."

So whether you prefer chunky pasta salads with a cool, creamy dressing perfect for summer picnics, or entrée-worthy pasta salads with long rice noodles and a tangy vinaigrette, you're sure to find a new favourite with from our collection.

Mediterranean Orzo Salad
This salad highlights many fresh flavours of the Mediterranean and is at its best when made with good-quality olive oil.

Photography by Jeff Coulson

The Best Macaroni Salad
This is a great keeper salad and perfect for a picnic or BBQ. Just make sure you pack it with plenty of ice packs to keep it nice and cold, both during transportation and at the table.

Photography by Annabelle Waugh

Chicken, Broccoli and Bocconcini Pasta Salad
Make this pasta salad for the whole family—the kids will love the mild dressing and round bocconcini cheese, while the adults will appreciate it as a light alternative to a sandwich.

Warm Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad
The dressing lends a taste of summer any time of year. The red peppers provide vitamins A and C and potassium. Quick and easy to make, this salad is perfect to take to a last-minute potluck or picnic.